Web 2.0

The internet has come a long ways over the past 15 years. A time when everyone had Hotmail account, a personal website, your AOL buddy list was so long you couldn’t remember everyone, and you had to listen to that annoying phone line sound every time you “dialed up” to the internet and surfed Yahoo!

The new era of the world wide web is defined as ‘Web 2.0′. A simple term that is incredibly powerful. In a world of e-commerce, social networks, and open-source software, the shift to Web 2.o is here. Web 2.0 is a term to describe the multi-use platforms found online. The internet has shifted over time to a more “user-friendly” environment.

By nature, I am a designer, so I will focus on the design aspects of the Web 2.o culture. The shift in web design is even better now than ever. Web 2.0 brought in a style that is simplistic and modern. Explore some examples of Web 2.0 design styles here and here and here and here

Want to learn how to design your own Web 2.0 stuff? Check out the Deziner Folio, it’s an in-depth look at certain styles of Web 2.0 and provides some style downloads. Check out IRIS Design and learn how to make dynamic 2.0 web buttons. Smashing Magazine provides an in-depth tutorial for all things Web 2.0

Major MUST-DO’s:

• Rounded Shapes
• Shades
• Sans Serif
• Pastell v2.0
• Footers
• Buttons
• Font-Size: Oversized
• Descriptive HTML (XML style)
• Content Management Systems
• Mobile phone support
• Gradient fills
• Reflection of images

Major DO NOT’s:

• Java Applets (Script is fine though)
• Animated GIFs (the blinky ones)
• 100% Flash Websites
• Visible tables
• Code site without CSS
• Default browser fonts
• Large images without thumbnails
• A site number counter
• Use Geocities or Angelfire

Time Magazine listed the Top 50 Websites and, to no surprise, most of them are Web 2.0

So now what? Learn, explore, and create some stuff in the 2.0 style. The more you do it, the easier it gets. Kinda like riding a bike, except you can’t fall off and scrape your knees. In the meantime, check out this Web 2.0 video, it’s pretty creative, and creative things are always good.